Can-opener.



S. ZEMBSCH.

CAN OPENER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. II. I9I6.

Patented oet. 3,1916.

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SIMON ZEMBSCH, 'O CHEROKE, IOWA.

CAN-OPENER.

Application led February 11, 1916.

To all whom t may concern f Be it known that I, SIMON ZEMBSCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cherokee, in the county of Cherokee, 'State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to can openers, having for its primary object to provide means whereby the operation incident to the opening of tin or metallic cans is greatly simplified.

A further object of the invention is to lprovide a can opener of such construction that the danger ofthe hands or person of the operator becoming cut, either by the cutting implement itself, or by the can, is reduced to a minimum.

A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a device for opening cans which is of simple construction, which is composed of but few readily assembled parts, which is so constructed as to preclude the possibility of the device becoming inoperative or broken, which is easy of operation, and which will prove thoroughly efficient for the purposes for which it is designed.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed'out in the claims.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a can opener constructed in accordance with my invention, and the same being shown asf applied to a conventional form of can, Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe device looking toward the end of onerof the operating levers, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4, is a lsectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5, is a View similar to Fig. 4, in which .I have shown a slightly modified form of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 5 indicates a plate of substantially thin metal, and is provided with a plurality of prongs or spikes 6 projecting from Specification of Letters Paten-t.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916. Serial No. 77,691.

its .under surface and in spaced relation to each other. These prongs are preferably sharpened at their extremities, and are notched as at 7 adjacent their juncture with afthe plate 5. The plate 5 is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth 8 arranged in spaced relation to each other, and preferably ina circular series to project from the upper face of the said plate. For convenience in manufacture, the plate 5 is preferably .circular in shape, having its'edges cut or serrated, and the serrated portions bent at right angles tothe plate to extend upwardly to form the ratchet teeth 8, the shoulder portion of the teeth being preferably inclined inwardly as shown at 9.

A pivot pin 10 is secured to the upper face of the plate and preferably centrally thereof, to which levers 11 and 12 are pivotally connected at one end. The levers project beyond the edges of the said plate, and are preferably twisted slightly at points lying over the edge of the plate to provide gripping shoulders for engagement with the ratchet teeth 8 at the plate edge. The lever 12 is provided preferably with parallel edges, and a slidable clip 18 carrying a cutting element or blade 14, is mounted for movement longitudinally of the said lever. The clip 13 is composed of a plate forming a body portion, having its lateral edges upstanding and turned inwardly as at 15 to overlie the spaced parallel edges of the said lever. The cutting element or blade 14 projects outwardly from the undersurface of the body portion of the clip, and is of a length suiiicient to extend through the thickness of an ordinary can top or head. A stop in the form of a lug 16 is arranged upon one of the lateral edges of the lever 12 adjacent the outer end thereof to limit the sliding movement of the said clip in outward direction.

In operation, the plate 5 is positioned overa can head and preferably centrally thereof, and pressed -downwardly until'the spikes or prongs 6 penetrate the same. The plate isforced downwardly until the same rests upon the can head. The clip 13 is then adjusted to such position that its cutting blade 14 will engage with the can top, and the said element is then forced to penetrate the said top. The levers 11 and 12 are then gripped by the hands of the operator, the latter being forced outwardly to engage with one of the teeth 8 on the said plate. It

is obvious that outward movement of the 1eof the device the levers ver 12 will, through its connection with the plate 5 by one of the ratchet teeth,

`cause the can to turn therewith, while the lever 11 slides over the ratchet teeth. When the arms have been thus separated, the lever 12 is then forced in the opposite direction, whereupon the same will slide over the ratchet teeth 8 and the engagement of the lever 11 with one of the ratchet teeth will hold'the plate and can against reverse movement. Obviously as the lever 12 is forced in this reverse direction, the cutting blade 141 will operate upon the can top to deliver an arcuate cut thereto. After the levers are again in substantially close position, the lever 12 is again forced outwardly to carry the plate and can, whereupon reverse movement will again be applied to the said lever 12 to increase the length of the cut in the can top. This operation is continued until the ends of the cut meet, whereupon the disk thus formed may be removed from the can top. Bv providing the notched portions adjacent the forward edges of the prongs or spikes 6, adjacent the juncture of the latter with the underface of the plate, it is apparent that the said notches will receive the adjacent edges of the openings formed by the said prongs penetrating the can, and disengagement of the prongs with the can top during the lever operations will be prevented. From the description set forth, it is apparent that the can may be cut open in such manner as to form a clean even edge at the opening, whereupon the danger of injury to the hands will be avoided. It is also obvious that the provision of a device capable of delivering a cut to the can top by a ratchet or step-by-step movement, greatly simplifies can opening operations.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of the means for establishing a connection between the plate 5 and the levers 11 and 12. In this form 11 and 12 remain straight throughout their length instead of being twisted adjacent the teeth 8, and a pawl 17 is provided upon each lever for making positive connections between the latter and said plate when moved in one direction, and to permit of idle movement of the said levers when moved in a reverse direction. These pawls may be formed of relatively small metallic plates, bent at one Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the end as at 18 to provide offset teeth engaging shoulders, and being bent inwardly and backwardly at their opposite ends for loose engagement within openings 19 formed in the levers 11 and 12.

While I have herein described and shown a particular or preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I need not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In -a can opener, a plate, ratchet teeth arranged in circular series and projecting upwardly from said plate, a pair of levers pivoted to said plate and adapted for en gagement with said teeth, a cutting member on one of said levers, and means for securing said plate to a can top, substantially as described.

2. In a can opener, a plate, prongs secured on the under side of said plate and adapted to be projected through a can top, ratchet teeth arranged in circular series on said plate, a pair of levers pivoted to said plate and adapted for engagement with said teeth, and a cutter member on one of said levers, substantially as described.

3. In a can opener, a plate adapted to be secured to a can top, a pair of levers pivoted to said plate, means for forming a positive connection between said plate and levers when the latter are moved in one direction, and a cutter member on one of said levers, substantially as described.

4. In a can opener, a plate, the edges of said plate being serrated and turned upwardly to provide ratchet teeth, a pair o levers pivoted to said plate at one end, each of said levers being twisted slightly inwardly from said pivoted end to engage with said teeth, a knife blade arranged for adjustment longitudinally of one of said levers, and means for releasably securing said plate and the can top, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

. SIMON ZEMBSCH.

Vitnesses:

LAURENCE W. RADCLIFFE, ALEX PETERSON.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. C.

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